Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-28
DAILY HERALD.
THE ART OF SWIMMING.
why should ID Not be an Element
I'm Public Education?

BROOKLYN Eagle, have caused parents
to inquire why swimming is not taught
in the private and public schools.
have heard more than one father say
that the art of swimming should be
known by all, as it is of more value in
or on water than a similar knowledge
of English grammar would be in a
chance for drowning, for all the
learning one might pick up in
schools and colleges would not save one
from going to the bottom of the sea in
case of collision or capsizing if he did
not know how to swim. In London
during the hour of recess the school
children are marched to the swimm-
ing baths, where under the eyes OF
competent instructors, they are taught
how to save themselves from drown
ing by swimming, floating, treading
water and the frog movement. AT
first the scholars dislike this particn-
lar and most useful study, but after a
while, when they gain confidence in
themselves and their teachers, they
take unto the water like duck, and
the art of swimming becomes past
time instead of task. In converse
ton with prominent teacher of
swimming asked for an opinion as
to the wisdom of the Board of Educa-
tion in adopting system of swimm-
ing teaching in or by the public
schools, and was answered as
follows: "All Americans should
learn to swim, for they live in a land
intersected with lakes and rivers, and
their love of travel and water makes it
necessary for all to master the art.
We can never tell before
hand when call shall be
made on us to face danger, and
therefore we ought to be ready to meet
the watery element with confidence
born of knowledge derived from good
teaching. The fact of the matter is
that the public schools should initiate
the example set by their English
cousins in amusing and instructing
their pupils during the hour of recess
in the swimming baths, do not .nree- !
tead ie sa, A.. H.. every school teacher
should be good swimmer and in
structor of the art, for all of them
have their heads crammed with other
useless information, which they are
supposed to transplant to the minds OF
the young and then, again many OF
the instructors in the stereotyped
mode peculiar to modern school teach
ing are too old to learn how to save their
lives if in danger, and, therefore, they
could not instruct in an art they know
nothing about. Every parent should
see to it that the children become ex-
perts in fresh or salt water. When we
think of the beneficial results of the
exercise and the health-giving quail
ties of the water, then, it seems to me,
that all, both great and small, should
be taught the art. l have heard peo-
pie say that any child can swim. All
one has to do is to throw them over
board and they will instantly strike
out for dear life like a dog. or any
other web-footed animal, This is a
mistaken theory, for the human race
are not web-footed, and, therefore,
swimming, floating, or any other ex-
ercise in deep water must be cultivated,
rs it does not come natural to us. The
art of swimming must be acquired,
and the first thing to teach the child
is to have confidence in ITSELF"
"How is that taughtY"
BY going into the water with them,
take the little ones on your back and
amuse them in different ways. After
awhile they get to like it, and having
full confidence in their protector they
do as they are told. The leg motion
is the first thing to teach, and after
wards they should be instructed in the
use of their arms. They should be
held by quitting one hand on the
breast and the other on their back.
This does not interfere with their arms
in any way, and having full sense of
security they commence to make
strokes, and finding themselves sue
cessful the rest is easy. The action of
the frog is neither handsome nor
quick, and | disagree with some au-
fhorities who recommend it, because
to me it is not desirable. Children
from years of age upwards should be
taught to propel themselves through
the water with one hand only or one
foot, or with both hands or feet alone.
This knowledge is extremely useful
in cases of cramps, for the limb that is
attacked can be rested, while its mate
will bring the swimmer safe to the
shore, where a vigorous rubbing of
the muscles will make matters all
right. Delicate ladies who are advised
by physicians to learn the art of
swimming become fatigued at first,
but after while they can make the
element subject to their will, and
when once under their control the
accomplishment will never be forgot
ten. In proof of this assertion it may
be asserted that Miss Wright, who
is a near relative of Miss Booth, of
Horper's Weekly, was taught by her
father to float when a child. For
many years the lady did not enter the
water, and it might be supposed she
would forget how to float on the sur
face, but she did not, as upon a very
dark night, when walking a plank
IRON one steamboat to another on
the Mississippi river she slipped and
fell into twelve feet of water. The
young lady could not swim a stroke,
but with great presence of mind she
turned on her back and remained mo-
tionless while floating for one hour.
and was rescued after painful sus-
pense on the part of her friends. A
number of instances of this kind.
where knowledge of floating, even by
those who could not swim, saved their
lives, could be related, and it can be
said, without fear of successful contra
diction, that if the women on the Mys-
terry had known how to float, every
one of them would have been saved,
and there would not have been so
many destitute homes to-day"
"How long will it take to make a
pupil good swimmer"
'rhat depends entirely upon the
age of the person whom the teacher
has to deal ith. A grown man and
woman can be taught in four lessons
to take care of themselves in water,
but with children it is different.
Their confidence must first be won by
l<;.d.,sas. .a.ad afts,,. tLss,. s<.,;., ~.